Processes that determine the interplay of root exudation, methane emission and yield in rice agriculture

Rice is the most important staple food for half of the world's population, but also accounts for about 10% of all anthropogenic CH₄ emissions. In spite of a wealth of information on the mechanistic basis and the importance of the rice plant in mediating these emissions, the significance of root exudation for CH₄ emissions and the processes that determine root exudation are not well understood. Root exudates derive from photosynthate allocated to the root and subjected to root anabolic and catabolic processes. Key processes in roots that determine the extent of root exudation and, hence, CH₄ emission from rice agriculture, include (i) deviation of metabolites from root anabolic and catabolic pathways facilitating root exudation, but also (ii) xylem loading and transport of potential root exudates for reallocation to the leaves, and (iii) xylem loading of sucrose in roots for its transport into reproductive organs, both suppressing root exudation. These processes are modulated by plant development and metabolic requirements resulting from different functions of root exudation. In the present report the interplay of root exudation, CH₄ emission and yield are discussed.